Golden joined the majority of North American communities in implementing fully-automated and standardized curb-side garbage and recycling collection services in July of 2011. The system places fair controls on the amounts and type of waste residents produce and standardizes all resident containers. It meets Council’s goal in striving for environmental responsibility, addresses bear and other animal problems, and provides more convenience and cost effectiveness for residents.

All eligible residents on the weekly curbside garbage pick-up program have standardized containers for garbage and recycling collection. There are rules for amounts and type of garbage we will accept for collection, and for recycling, an amazing diversity of materials can be accepted except glass.

Recycling materials collected at the curbside are transported to recycling facilities by Recycle BC. To find out more about Recycle BC, click here.

Click HERE to view what can and can not be recycled.THE BINS
The green (garbage) and blue (recyclables) bins (64 gallon, flip lid, on wheels) are our standard for you. We will not collect any garbage and recycling from you unless it is in these bins.

The bins are owned by the municipality. They are tagged and belong to a property address and must stay there. You cannot take them with you if you move! Reasonable care of the bins is your responsibility. We will replace bins damaged through normal wear and tear; replacement as a result of resident abuse will come with a fee.

SCHEDULING
Garbage (green bin) pickup occurs weekly. Recycling (blue bin) is emptied every two weeks. A Curb-side Collection Calendar is included with your annual utility bill. This calendar is also available on our website, see the related links below or click HERE to view the calendar.

THE RULESGarbage or recycling placed in anything other than the provided bins will not be collected. Either bin will not be emptied if:

It is not placed correctly at the curb, or is placed in a snow bank

The lid is not fully closed

It is damaged to the point where it cannot be used

Your Blue (recycles) bin has garbage or glass in it

Your Green (garbage) bin has recyclables in it

You put Prohibited Waste in it (see other side for definition)

THE COST
The cost of curb-side collection services is $118.70 per year, which you pay through your annual utility bill typically issued in late January. Broken down, it’s $93.77 for garbage, and $24.93 for recycling. For this, you get weekly garbage and bi-weekly recycling pickup, standardized town-owned bins, and a more comprehensive and less expensive recycling program than most cities have. Plus there’s no “tag a bag”, or blue plastic bag requirements which just complicate things. Your annual fee also includes an annual contribution to a reserve fund for eventual bin replacements.

WHAT DOES NOT GO IN THE GARBAGE BIN
“Prohibited Waste” meaning materials from excavations, material from lot clearing or building construction, repairs, alterations, or maintenance, debris from any building or part thereof removed or damaged or destroyed by fire or any other cause, material from any manufacturing processes, condemned or contaminated matter from any premises. It also includes but is not limited to:Hazardous, ignitable, biomedical, radioactive, reactive, and yard waste; liquids and sludge, PCB’s and pesticide products, discarded furniture or other household equipment, paint, discarded or abandoned vehicles or farm equipment or parts thereof, scrap metal, tires, used oil filters, waste oil or petroleum products, lead acid batteries, propane tanks, hot or unwrapped ashes, animal carcasses, stones, sand, and rocks, concrete and asphalt, waste that is on fire or smouldering, unwrapped sharps, electronics and electrical products, including batteries, and animal excrement not contained in a separately sealed container.

WHAT DOES NOT GO IN THE RECYCLES BIN
Have a look again at the information placard on your blue bin lid. Here’s the changes.New changes effective May 19, 2014 items that are Now Prohibited (Landfill only)
Paperback and hard cover books
Any type of plastic film, bags, and overwrap (includes grocery bags, vegetable and bread bags, any kind of plastic wrappers, furniture overwrap, zip-lock bags, cellophane, cling wrap or film)
Any type of Styrofoam (includes meat trays, egg cartons, take-out containers, peanuts, packaging or insulation)
Domestic and Prohibited waste and glass.

Why the strict rules on garbage?
As a Bear Aware community, other recurring animal problems such as birds and dogs, and a responsibility to cut down on our garbage outputs, setting size limits on bins and mandating closed lids will help service delivery, and result in fewer messes on the street.

What if I don’t follow the rules?
First, we’ll tell you about it. Then, we simply won’t empty your bins. Doing so then becomes your cost to take to the landfill. Repeat offenses will likely end up in an indefinite suspension of service. Service participation is mandatory so you will continue to pay for it as well - it’s in everybody’s best interest to comply with the rules.

Why can’t glass be included?
Glass is problematic in many curb-side programs as it contaminates and creates significant hazards and revenue losses at sorting centres when included in baled recycled materials. This is an inconvenience, but glass can still be deposited in containers provided by the CSRD adjacent to the bottle depot. Hopefully this can change in the future.

Can I have more bins?
Yes, though it will cost you. An additional green bin is $92.39/year and an additional blue bin is $24.56/year.

How do I properly place my containers?
The handle and wheels must face the house. If you have a curb, place it on the street butted up against it. If you don’t have a curb, place it right next to the street. It has to be easy to reach with the truck’s automated arm – not behind a vehicle, halfway up a driveway, or in a snow bank, prone to tipping.

What if my bin is damaged?

Tell us and we’ll determine if it needs replacement. If it was caused by the collector or by normal wear and tear, there’s no charge to you.

Questions?
Businesses can contact VP Waste at 250.439 9679 or 250.439.9479 or on the web www.vpwaste.com

Program rules and conditions: Town of Golden 250.344.2271 or inquiries@golden.caBin roll outs, collection service details contact: VP Waste Solutions Ltd. 250.439.9479 or 9679
CSRD Website Garbage and Recycling information can be found here
Recycle BC Website can be found here
Bear Aware program information can be found at this link

PUBLIC NOTICE JAN 2018:
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District planning to amend its Solid Waste Management Plan and is seeking public feedback on this issue -
Click HERE to learn more and to take the online survey.